Sumeet Vyas: You do some projects for love and some for money

The actor talks about why actors feel insecure and can’t turn down roles, and why he feels the need to slow down a bit and do roles that he loves this year.

With two web series last year, Wakaalat from Home (WFH) and Dark 7 White (D7W), actor Sumeet Vyas terms the last year, kinder to him than a number of people who went through a lot in 2020.

Sumeet is glad that the OTT boom has given audiences some very good stories.

“I feel grateful that I was able to work in a year which was difficult for many people. We shot WFH at home, which was interesting, while D7W was shot after lockdown eased. The latter allowed me to play a dark role, as it was unlike what I had played before. It was humbling to be considered for a role like this as often, actors don’t get the opportunity to break the mould,” he shares.

Going forward, he reveals that he wants to probably slow down a bit and do the kind of work that excites him. “Actors are freelancers and there is always a fear that if we reject projects, will others offer us roles? Due to that fear, you end up taking most work that comes your way, without strategising. Moreover, most don’t come from wealthy families, so we have to run our kitchens as well. But this year, I want to do roles that appeal to me and not just for bread and butter. Hopefully, the appealing work will pay as well (laughs). Most often roles that you love, don’t pay and at times, work that you don’t think about much, pays your bills. Some projects you do for the love and some for money. Having said that, it is not that you pick up bad projects but after shooting for a bit, most actors get an inkling that the project isn’t turning out the way you thought or wouldn’t be up to the mark and vice versa too has happened,” he explains.

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